Volunteer

Offering opportunities to make a difference

Dixon Hall’s Volunteer department is made up of more than 1,200 volunteers a year, who dedicate their time and talents to 25 different programs and services across every department. Without the incredible support of these generous individuals, many of our programs would not be able to operate.

Take a look at our current volunteer opportunities under community and corporate volunteer headings.

Current Opportunities

Adult Enrichment & Wellness Program Volunteer
Program: Adult Enrichment & Wellness ProgramLocation: 188 Carlton Street and/or 285 Shuter Street and/or 55 Bleecker St
Assist Adult Enrichment and Wellness Program staff with the implementation of program activities for participants of the Adult Enrichment and Wellness Program. Activities may include, but are not limited to: program room set up and clean-up, program delivery, and assisting clients as necessary.See position outline

ESL Instructor: Basic Level Instruction (Mandarin Speaker)
Program: Seniors DivisionLocation: 58 Sumach Street, Toronto, ON (South of Queen St E, east of Parliament St)
Using program resources, deliver weekly ESL instruction to Mandarin-speaking seniors. There is some flexibility within the program resources for the Instructor to introduce new material. Instructional workshops are held Tuesday mornings from 10:00am – 11:30am.See position outline

English Class Instructor: Mandarin Program
Program: Senior ServicesLocation: 58 Sumach Street, Toronto
The English Class Instructor will develop and deliver weekly sessions to Mandarin-speaking seniors focused on encouraging and improving conversational English skills to assist learners with day-to-day tasks. Instructional workshops are held on Thursday afternoons from 2:00pm – 3:30pm at the agency office located at 58 Sumach Street, Toronto. Successful volunteer candidates will have experience in delivering English lessons in group settings, and preferably have experience teaching older adults and senior citizens.See position outline

Arts Program Workshop Leader
Program: Housing Services
Dixon Hall is looking for an experienced arts program instructor with interests and skills in creative arts expression to lead our clients in a group where they will be encouraged to draw, paint and participate in various methods of artistic expression.See position outline

Settlement Services Intake & Program Support: Mandarin Language Program
Program: Settlement ServicesLocation: 417 Gerrard Street East
The Settlement Services Intake & Program Support volunteers work closely with the Program Manager to provide a variety of supports to clients including: client intake and assessment; developing and leading Conversation Circles; as well as promoting and conducting information sessionsSee position outline

Conversation Circle Program VolunteersProgram: Settlement ServicesLocation: 417 Gerrard Street E.
Volunteers in the Conversation Circle program have the opportunity to work with adult learners in small group settings. Our learners have a range of abilities and challenges that are reflective of a variety of learning styles and needs. Learners and volunteers work together to build strong verbal English conversation skills which helps to build confidence, and independence – all important factors in becoming life-long learners.
The Conversation Circle program is seeking Program Leaders to partner with program staff to provide assistance and encouragement to the learner(s) in small group settings. The focus of the program is to encourage conversational English skills to assist learners with day-to-day tasks.See position outline

Telephone Reassurance VolunteerProgram: Seniors DivisionLocation: Work remotely from home
Telephone Reassurance volunteers provide support, stimulation, reassurance and an element of security to individuals who are elderly, disabled, chronically/terminally ill or convalescing through weekly telephone calls.See position outline

Adult Day Program AssistantProgram: Adult Day CentreLocation: 188 Carlton St.
The volunteer will assist the Day Program staff with the implementation of program activities for participants of the Adult Day Program. Tasks may include, but are not limited to: helping with program room set up, activity prep, preparing snacks, and socializing with clients.See position outline

ESL Instructor: Basic Level InstructionProgram: Mandarin OutreachLocation: 58 Sumach St.
Using program resources, deliver weekly ESL instruction to Mandarin-speaking seniors. There is some flexibility within the program resources for the Instructor to introduce new material. Instructional workshops are held Tuesday mornings from 10:00am – 11:30am.See position outline

Program Assistant – Cantonese SpeakingProgram: Health & Wellness Program, Seniors ServicesLocation: 58 Sumach St.
Assist the Health & Wellness Program Coordinator with the implementation of program activities for Cantonese-speaking clients, and provide valuable support, allowing clients to fully participate in the program and its activities.See position outline

Meals on Wheels – High School StudentsProgram: Seniors ServicesLocation: 192 Carlton St.
Together with a parent/guardian, deliver nutritious meals to individuals who are unable to prepare their own meals at lunchtime.See position outline

HairstylistProgram: Housing ServicesLocation: various Dixon Hall locations
Empower people and support homeless communities through haircuts.See position outline

Food SupportProgram: Conversation Circle, Settlement ServicesLocation: 417 Gerrard St. East
Help purchase, prepare and serve snacks to program participants.See position outline

Meals on Wheels RunnerProgram: Meals on Wheels, Seniors ServicesLocation: 192 Carlton St.
Help deliver hot meals with a warm smile and a friendly word. Runners work in teams and are taken to clients’ homes by a Meals on Wheels Driver.See position outline

Meals on Wheels DriverProgram: Meals on Wheels, Seniors ServicesLocation: 192 Carlton St.
Driver Runners to the home of clients. Drivers must be a minimum of 25 years of age with a valid Ontario’s Driver’s License and be named on a personal car insurance policy. Drivers with their own vehicles are ideal and will be reimbursed for travel costs twice a year.See position outline

Meals on Wheels

Dixon Hall’s Corporate Meals on Wheels Volunteer Program offers employees an opportunity to enjoy ‘a different kind of lunch’ by helping to deliver meals to homebound seniors during their lunch hour.

How the program works:
Spend 2 hours, a minimum of once a month, delivering meals to people in need.

Dixon Hall’s bus will pick you up from your office between 11:30 am and 11:45 am and bring you directly to our office at 192 Carlton St. You are assigned a route to deliver meals along with your co-workers. You are driven back to your office between 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm.

Friday Morning Breakfast Program

Kick off your Friday by joining your colleagues in preparing breakfast for those in our community in need of a hot, nutritious start to their day.

This is an opportunity for teams of up to six people to prepare, cook and serve breakfast for community members who may live in vulnerable housing situations and/or have food security issues.

Includes a presentation by our Housing Services staff about the importance of food security and how food programs increase the rate of success for individuals who are transitioning from precarious housing/food situations to more stable circumstances.

Tuesday Evening Dinner Program

Make Tuesday evening a great night by joining your colleagues in preparing dinner for those in our community in need of a hot meal and a friendly smile.

This is an opportunity for teams of up to six people to prepare, cook and serve dinner for community members who may live in vulnerable housing situations and/or have food security issues.

Includes a presentation by our Housing Services staff about the importance of food security and how food programs increase the rate of success for individuals who are transitioning from precarious housing/food situations to more stable circumstances.

Hygiene Kit Collection & Assembly

Looking for a way to contribute to your community with your co-workers?

Kits are distributed to shelter guests, food program guests and clients working with our Case Management and Harm-Reduction teams.

Current Opportunities

Friday Morning Breakfast ProgramProgram: Housing ServicesLocation: 58 Sumach St.
In teams of up to 6 people, help prepare, cook and serve breakfast to about 40 members of the community who may live in vulnerable housing situations and/or have food security issues.See position outline

Tuesday Evening Dinner ProgramProgram: Housing ServicesLocation: 58 Sumach St.
In teams of up to 6 people, help prepare, cook and serve dinner to about 40 members of the community who may live in vulnerable housing situations and/or have food security issues.See position outline

Board Member

The process varies from year to year based on needs of the Board and the expiration of terms of its members.

In general, recruitment occurs in the late spring for nominations to occur at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September.

If you're interested in putting your name forward as a candidate, please forward a resume and covering letter to: HR@dixonhall.org

Committee Member

Dixon Hall’s Programs Committee, and Fundraising, Development & Communications Committee (FDC) are voluntary bodies with representation from clients, community members and various health and business professionals.

Becoming a Committee Member is an exciting and meaningful way to get involved and give back to the community.

Please check back soon for Committee Member openings, which are posted as they become available.

Over the course of year, Dixon Hall runs several special events in support of our various programs and services. Volunteers are key to making these events a great success.

Join us at one or all of our special events!

Dixonlicious
Guests sample mouth-watering cuisine from an array of diverse and creative food stations prepared by restaurants from around our neighbourhood.

Toronto Challenge
A 1km or 5km walk or run through the streets of downtown Toronto to raise money in support of our seniors programs.

Music for Life
An event to provide music lessons for youth in the Regent Park community. Take part in an evening gala filled with beautiful music, food and entertainment in support of Dixon Hall’s Music School.